§ MR. PALKsaid, he would now beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it was his intention to repeal the duties on fire insurance, which it had been stated enabled foreign companies to insure at a less premium in consequence of their freedom from a similar tax?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERIn answer to the question of the hon. Gentleman, I beg to state that it is not my intention to make any proposal for the repeal of the duty. In the event of the Companies paying that duty being exposed to unfair competition with untaxed policies of assurance, it will he my duty to bring in a measure of a different character for the protection of the revenue and the interests of those companies which may be subject to that competition.